Apparatus for agitating the contents of electrolytic cells.



No. 788,506. PATENTE'D MAY 2, 1905.

, E.A. ASHCROFT. APPARATUS FOR. ACITATING THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

5 sums-42mm 1.

ll 1 Ill -l l ln No. 788,506. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

E. A. ASHCROFT. APPARATUS FOR. AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC GELLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

5 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAY 2. 1905.

. E. A. ASHCROFT. APPARATUS FOR AGITATIVNG THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.-

5 Santa's-SHEET a.

No. 788,506. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. E. A. ASHCROFT. APPARATUS FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I l 1 I x l I I No. 788,506. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. E. A. ASHCROFT.

APPARATUS FOR-AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

v APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

NTTED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.-

APPARATUS FOR AGITATING THE CONTENTS OF ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,506, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No- 181,401.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR ARTHUR Asuoaor'r, a subject of the King of England, residing at Weston, via Runcorn, in the county of Chester, England, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Agitating the Contents of Electrolytic Cells or Effecting Systematic Transference of Portions of the Contents from One Cell to Another, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to electrolytic cells in which a fused electrolyte or intermediate electrode is employed at a comparatively high-current density and requires agitation or circulation and for moving and circulating an intermediate electrode of liquid metal, such as fused lead in the production of caustic soda or metallic sodium.

The following details will explain how my invention is carried out.

If a circular vessel containing fused chlorid of sodium be carrying a current which enters the bath more or less centrally and leaves it more or less peripherally, (as when a fused lead cathode and carbon anode are employed in production of sodium-lead alloy or sodium amalgam from chlorid of sodium,) 2. common pot electromagnet having concentric poles when placed concentrically beneath the bath will set up a violent swirl of the whole contents of the bath, the necessary condition being that the lines of magnetic force shall cut the lines of current-flow more or less at right angles and in a plane at right angles to the direction of the required motion. The direction of rotation of the fluid-armature will be according to the relative directions of the magnetism and the current-flow.

If two vessels are placed side two pot-magnets arranged below them, the two swirls being caused to take place in'the same direction, it will be evident that by a simple arrangement of channels with or without baffles a regular flow into and out of each vessel may be made to take place, and in this manner an efiicient means is provided for the circulation of the intermediate electrode sometimes employed in the production of caustic soda or sodium-lead alloys as well as of agitating the contents of the bath.

by side and By employing a single horseshoe-electromagnet one pole of which is vertically below each of the two vessels served by the intermediate electrode the same effect is produced, the lines of magnetic force cutting the lines of current-flow at right angles and in such a direction as to produce unidirectional rotation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse longitudinal central section of an electrolytic cell constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of an alternative form of cell. Fig. 4 is a plan of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section of a third form of cell, and Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an electrolytic vessel A, containing an electrolyte B, such as fused sodium chlorid, has a central anode C, of carbon or the like, and a cathode D, which may be a mass of fused lead at the bottom of the cell. An clectroniagnet E with an iron pot E to conduct the lines of magnetic force are placed concentrically beneath the cell A and set up a violent swirl of the whole contents of the bath, the necessary condition being that the lines of magnetic force shall cut the lines of current-flow more or less at right angles and shall lie in planes at right angles to the direction of the required motion. The direction of rotation of the fluid-armature will be according to the relative directions of the magnetism and the current. A second electrolytic vessel F, containing an electrolyte Cr, such as fused caustic soda, is placed beside the first vessel A and is connected therewith by tangential passages H at the bottom of the vessels. The second cell F has a cathode J, of nickel or the like, and the anode consists of the intermediate electrode D, such as sodiumlead alloy, and the current entering the first cell at C is thus conducted through the alloy D to the second cell, where it leaves by the cathode J. An electromagnet K in an iron pot K is placed concentrically beneath the vessel, as before. If the swirls in the two vessels A and F be caused to take place in the same direction, some of the intermediate electrodes will pass along the channels H, thereby causing a systematic transference of the liquid electrode.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the transference of the liquid electrode between the cells may also be effected by the employment of a baffleplate L, the passages H being then arranged near the bafiie and on opposite sides thereof, so that the current of liquid in the cells impinging on the baflfle is directed through the passages H. In this case the single horseshoe-magnet M has been illustrated having one pole M vertically below the first cell A and the other pole M vertically below the second cell F, and the same efiect as before is produced, as the lines of magnetic force out the lines of current-flow at right angles and in such a direction as to produce unidirectional rotation.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the differences of level at the center and periphery produced by the rotation of the contents of the cells may be turned to account in transferring the intermediate electrode between the cells. Thus one passage H leads from the center of the first cell A to the periphery of the second cell F, and the other passage H leads from the center of the second cell to the periphery of the first, and as the pressure of the periphery in each case is greater than that at the center circulation is produced. I

I am aware that certain uses of a magnetpole have been suggested for moving mercury carrying a current in various processes and industrial operations.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electrolytic apparatus, the combination of a cell containing a fused electrolyte and a fused electrode beneath the electrolyte, means for passing an electrolytic current through the cell in a substantial radial direction,and an electromagnet placed beneath the center of the cell to cause rotation of the contents.

2. In an electrolytic apparatus, the combination of a cell containing a central anode, an electrolyte and a cathode of fused material beneath the electrolyte, means for passing an electrolytic current through the cell, and an electromagnet placed beneath the center of the cell to cause rotation of the contents.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus the combination of two connected cells containing fused electrolytes and an intermediate fused electrode beneath the electrolytes, means for passing an electrolytic current through each cell in a substantially radial direction and two electromagnets placed beneath the vessels to cause rotation of the contents and the transference of the intermediate electrode from one cell to the other.

4:. In an electrolytic apparatus the combination of two cells containing fused electrolytes and an intermediate fused electrode beneath the electrolytes, means for passing an electrolytic current through each cell in a substantially radial direction, two electromagnets placed beneath the vessels to cause rotation of the contents and two conduits between the cells to cause transference of the intermediate electrode from one cell to another.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR ARTHUR ASHCROFT.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. BALLANTYNE, HARRY B. BRIDGE. 

